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"Heavy Hitter" (also known as "Neon Palmmm") is an unreleased song by Lana Del Rey. It was recorded on March 27, 2009 with a beat by producer Blockhead, which Del Rey selected and wrote to.[1] The track was leaked on January 25, 2012 by Blockhead with its accompanying concept beat and recording process on his blog.[2]
Contents
Background[]
Two different versions of this song were produced. The first one was solely produced by Blockhead and labeled as "rough mix" by him. The other version was produced by two unknown producers from the same studio and is labeled as "final version".
Blockhead was dissatisfied with that his production was mostly replaced by the others two producers and he complained about the situation on his blog:
Here’s where I get a little bitter. The idea of bringing me in to work with her was to hear her sound in a different light. At the time, she was signed to a small indie label and still trying to find her sound. I can 100% accept that I was not the right sound for her. But it definitely bummed me out that we went into work on some shit that could have been interesting and it came out to a very typical , almost “bar band” kinda vibe. All that was left of my beat was a fading horn, a little of the guitars and a simple bass line. The rest was replaced with corny drums sounds, lame rhodes progressions and some guitars riffs. I realize this sounds like I’m shitting all over the other two dudes who did all the instrument work but I’m not. They did they’re job. They made it a more pop friendly song. Those dudes are far more talented musicians than I’ll ever be, we just have a different take on music, that’s all. I think I was just under the assumption that’s what we weren’t there to do. I figured Lizzy and I were bought in together to try and see what happens when a girl like her sings over beats like mine. But, to really the fault of no one involved, it just didn’t happen.
The original file of Blockhead's version leaked on July 6, 2017 and is labeled as "Heavy Hitter-Ideas rough 1". Along with "Hundred Dollar Bill" and "Hawaiian Tropic", "Heavy Hitter" belongs to an album titled "2009 Pod Audio".
The concept beat contains a set of drums, guitars, a male voice and other instrumentation. A snippet of the concept demo, titled "Neon Palmmm", leaked on October 14, 2020. Later that day, the full version of the demo leaked. It uses the "Heavy Hitter" demo instrumental and was recorded in 2009.
Del Rey tweeted the lyrics "let's change our DNA" twice in 2009.[3][4]
Cross-references[]
- The song mentions the Chateau Marmont, a location referenced by Del Rey in many other songs, videos, and interviews.
- The phrase "lights, camera, action" also appears in many other songs, such as "Daddy Issues" and "Put Me in a Movie". Similar phrase "lights, camera, acción" appears in "High by the Beach".
- A Lamborghini is also mentioned in the song "Hit & Run".
- Butterfly is referenced in "Butterflies", "Butterflies, Pt. 2" and "Carmen".
- Del Rey calls her lover a king in "Hawaiian Tropic", "Prom Song (Gone Wrong)", "JFK", "Salvatore", "Starry Eyed", "Queen of Disaster" and "Catch and Release".
- Gold is also mentioned in "Ultraviolence" and "Lust for Life".
- A swimming pool is also referenced in "Off to the Races", "Push Me Down" and "Trash Magic".
- The phrase "you're so cool" also appears in "Wolf T-Shirt", "Boarding School" and the poem "In the Flats of Melrose".
- The concept demo titled "Neon Palmmm" is referenced in "Meth Love".
Official versions[]
- Version 1 — 3:08
- Version 2 — 3:08
- "Neon Palmmm" concept demo – 2:06
- Concept beat — 2:03
Lyrics[]
Versions one and two[]
I was lounging at the Chateau Marmont
Glimmering by the swimming pool
My man walked in like a slow motion movie
I said, "You're so cool."
I heard a man screaming, "Lights, camera, action!"
I c-c-can't remember what happened
I overdose, you throw me over your shoulder
I was dying, you were screaming
Open up that Lamborghini
Open up your butterfly doors
Heavy hitter
Open up your butterfly doors
What do you say?
Open up your butterfly doors
Heavy hitter
Let's ch-ch-change our DNA
Let's change our DNA
You the king, my fear, baby
I'm the queen of alchemy
I know a way to make gold by mixing our
Souls to escape reality
We in Monterrey, run to that ocean
I got that magical trance potion
Gotta leave, I can't wait 'til I'm older
You was laughing, I was running
Use that remote to open up
Open up your butterfly doors
Heavy hitter
Open up your butterfly doors
What do you say?
Open up your butterfly doors
Heavy hitter
Let's ch-ch-change our DNA
Let's change our DNA
You can be my higher power, baby
I can be your empress USA
We can go on drives for hours, baby
Let's change our DNA
Let's change our DNA
Let's change
Open up your butterfly doors
Heavy hitter
Open up your butterfly doors
What do you say?
Open up your butterfly doors
Heavy hitter
Let's ch-ch-change our DNA
Let's change our DNA
Heavy hitter
"Neon Palmmm" version[]
I know a place with neon palm trees, so
We can get a late call to the show
Heavy hitter, hey, heavy hitter
J’adore, j’adore
I heard a man screaming, “lights, camera, action!”
I c-c-can’t re-mem-mem-member what happened
I overdose, you throw me over your shoulder
I was dying, you were screaming
Open up your, open up your
Open up your butterfly doors, mm
Open up your butterfly doors, heavy hitter
Open up your butterfly doors of your speed green Lamborghini
J’adore, j’adore
Miss national grand supreme
Miss tropical USA
It’s high glitz for the US queen
Let’s ch-ch-change our DNA
Let’s change our DNA, heavy hitter
Let’s change our DNA, come all the way
Let’s change our DNA, are you with me?
I know a way to get away
Open up your
Open up your butterfly doors, heavy hitter
Open up your butterfly doors, heavy hitter
Open up your butterfly doors
